The idea of an unmanned aerial vehicle is not a recent one. To fully understand the MQ-1 Predator, we will take a look at how the modern UAV has evolved over the course of time.
A Brief History of UAVs
Pre-aviation
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/3708257.jpg?273)
Perley's Balloons
In 1983 during the American Civil War, Charles Perley, an inventor from New York, filed a patent for his unmanned bomber aircraft. His design involved balloons which carried a basket filled with explosives and a timing device that would ignite the fuse and drop the explosives. Needless to say, neither the Union nor the Confederates found much success with Perley's balloons. The balloons had one major flaw: control. Once the balloon was in the air, the launcher had no control over the balloon. The only thing controllable aspect of the device was the pre-set timer which, depending on wind, may or may not have been the correct time.
In 1983 during the American Civil War, Charles Perley, an inventor from New York, filed a patent for his unmanned bomber aircraft. His design involved balloons which carried a basket filled with explosives and a timing device that would ignite the fuse and drop the explosives. Needless to say, neither the Union nor the Confederates found much success with Perley's balloons. The balloons had one major flaw: control. Once the balloon was in the air, the launcher had no control over the balloon. The only thing controllable aspect of the device was the pre-set timer which, depending on wind, may or may not have been the correct time.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/6515783.jpg?329)
Eddy's Kite
During the Spanish-American War of 1898, an American soldier used Douglas Archibald's idea of aerial reconnaissance from a kite. Corporal William Eddy took photographs from a camera attached to a kite of his enemy's position by pulling a long string connected to the shutter.
During the Spanish-American War of 1898, an American soldier used Douglas Archibald's idea of aerial reconnaissance from a kite. Corporal William Eddy took photographs from a camera attached to a kite of his enemy's position by pulling a long string connected to the shutter.
World War I
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/7943781.jpg)
Aerial Torpedo
In the way as the modern missile is used, people began to experiment with the idea of an "aerial torpedo."
In 1917, Dr. Peter Cooper and Elmer A. Sperry used their invention, the gyroscopic stabilizer, to convert a US Navy trainer aircraft into the "Sperry Aerial Torpedo" that could fly 50 miles while carrying a bomb.
The "Kettering Bug", another aerial torpedo design was developed around the same time by Charles F. Kettering. But like the one developed by Sperry and Cooper, it never saw wartime-action as WWI came to an end before implementation.
In the way as the modern missile is used, people began to experiment with the idea of an "aerial torpedo."
In 1917, Dr. Peter Cooper and Elmer A. Sperry used their invention, the gyroscopic stabilizer, to convert a US Navy trainer aircraft into the "Sperry Aerial Torpedo" that could fly 50 miles while carrying a bomb.
The "Kettering Bug", another aerial torpedo design was developed around the same time by Charles F. Kettering. But like the one developed by Sperry and Cooper, it never saw wartime-action as WWI came to an end before implementation.
1930s
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/9518940.jpg?263)
The Queen Bee
The Queen Bee was the first reusable unmanned aerial vehicle that took off and landed like conventional aircraft. The Queen Bee was developed by the Royal British Navy for use as a target to train anti-aircraft gunners.
The Untied States also began using unmanned target practice vehicles from Radioplane Company (known today as Northrop Grumman) to train anti-aircraft gunners.
The Queen Bee was the first reusable unmanned aerial vehicle that took off and landed like conventional aircraft. The Queen Bee was developed by the Royal British Navy for use as a target to train anti-aircraft gunners.
The Untied States also began using unmanned target practice vehicles from Radioplane Company (known today as Northrop Grumman) to train anti-aircraft gunners.
World War II
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/3513251.jpg)
The V-1
Under Adolf Hitler's direction, Fieseler Flugzeuhau designed the Revenge Weapon-1, or the V-1. The V-1 was unmanned, traveled at 470 mph, and could carry a 2,000 lb warhead 150 miles. Hitler's "Revenge Weapon" killed 900 and injured 35,000 civilians in British cities. This marks the first large-scale use of unmanned aerial vehicles for assault purposes.
Under Adolf Hitler's direction, Fieseler Flugzeuhau designed the Revenge Weapon-1, or the V-1. The V-1 was unmanned, traveled at 470 mph, and could carry a 2,000 lb warhead 150 miles. Hitler's "Revenge Weapon" killed 900 and injured 35,000 civilians in British cities. This marks the first large-scale use of unmanned aerial vehicles for assault purposes.
1960s
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/4105531.jpg?513)
The Ryan Firebee
In 1960, the US Air Force began a program to develop stealth, reconnaissance UAVs. Engineers took the jet-powered Firebee from Ryan Aeronautical and fitted them with new radar absorbing and deflecting technology. The AQM-34 Ryan Firebee is deployed in air and controlled from a DC-130. The AQM-34 Ryan Firebee undertook more 34,000 surveillance missions in Southeast Asia from 1964 to 1975.a
In 1960, the US Air Force began a program to develop stealth, reconnaissance UAVs. Engineers took the jet-powered Firebee from Ryan Aeronautical and fitted them with new radar absorbing and deflecting technology. The AQM-34 Ryan Firebee is deployed in air and controlled from a DC-130. The AQM-34 Ryan Firebee undertook more 34,000 surveillance missions in Southeast Asia from 1964 to 1975.a
1980s
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/3441448.jpg?378)
Israeli UAVs
Israel Aircraft Industries built Scout, a small, piston-engine, UAV made of fiberglass. The Scout was outfitted with a 360 degree camera for surveillance. Because of its small size and fiberglass body, the Scout was nearly impossible to detect via radar and was difficult to shoot down.
Israel also developed the Pioneer, another light reconnaissance UAV. All branches of the US military immediately purchased 20 Pioneers because of the great success Israel was having with these smaller, lighter UAVs.
The Pioneer is the basis for nearly the entire modern fleet of US military UAVs.
Israel Aircraft Industries built Scout, a small, piston-engine, UAV made of fiberglass. The Scout was outfitted with a 360 degree camera for surveillance. Because of its small size and fiberglass body, the Scout was nearly impossible to detect via radar and was difficult to shoot down.
Israel also developed the Pioneer, another light reconnaissance UAV. All branches of the US military immediately purchased 20 Pioneers because of the great success Israel was having with these smaller, lighter UAVs.
The Pioneer is the basis for nearly the entire modern fleet of US military UAVs.
1990s to Today
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/9/6/26965666/5385200.jpg)
Current
With the conflict in the Middle East, and now with the War on Terror, US interest in UAV for long range, stealth, surveillance and pinpoint assault has never been greater. During the 1990s, under the US Defence's Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPE), an intenseUAV development program began which has produced numerous experimental and active UAVs including the RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator. Some other UAVs that have been produced through DARPE include the RQ-4 Global Hawk (a larger, higher altitude version of the Predator powered by a turbofan engine).
With the conflict in the Middle East, and now with the War on Terror, US interest in UAV for long range, stealth, surveillance and pinpoint assault has never been greater. During the 1990s, under the US Defence's Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPE), an intenseUAV development program began which has produced numerous experimental and active UAVs including the RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator. Some other UAVs that have been produced through DARPE include the RQ-4 Global Hawk (a larger, higher altitude version of the Predator powered by a turbofan engine).
Conclusion
From this timeline, it is apparent that the idea of the unmanned aerial vehicle is not a new one. The military advantages of having high-altitude surveillance or unmanned attacking machines has always been present. However, the reason for the recent jump in number of UAVs in the US military and around the world is due to landmark changes that were made by the Israelis. Just because the UAV was invented, does not mean that it gets implemented. This innovation took place in 1980s when the Israelis unveiled the Pioneer. The Pioneer is smaller and lighter than the Ryan Firebee, the most popular US UAV at the time. And because the Israelis had so much success with their design, DARPE was created, and thus the MQ-1 Predator was born. The MQ-1 is the most used UAV in the US military. This is because of its low-cost, low radar and sound signature, reusability, and configurability. This is what has made the UAV into a highly implemented piece of technology. The F-22 Raptor, a fighter jet used by the US Air Force costs about $150 million, while a MQ-1 Predator costs less $5 million. Because of these advantages, the MQ-1 will continue to grow in numbers, usage, and popularity among the US military. In his Rolling Stones article, The Rise of the Killer Drones: How America Goes to War in Secret, Michael Hastings says that “the low cost and lethal convenience of drones – death by
remote control – have made them a must-have item for advanced military powers” and in 2006 "the Pentagon had upped its goal, aiming to convert 45% of its "deep strike" aircraft to drones."
Sources:
-United States. Department of Defense. From U.S. Civil War to Afghanistan: A Short History of UAVs. By Jim Garamone. American Forces Service, Online.
-http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wartech/uavs.html
-http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416page=2#ixzz2wUIqv9yO
-United States. Department of Defense. From U.S. Civil War to Afghanistan: A Short History of UAVs. By Jim Garamone. American Forces Service, Online.
-http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wartech/uavs.html
-http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416page=2#ixzz2wUIqv9yO